Former wrestler Narsingh Yadav elected chairman of WFI’s seven-member athletes’ panel

Narsingh Yadav, an Arjuna awardee and Asian Championships gold medallist in 2010, was chosen as chairman from a total of eight candidates who were in the fray for the seven positions.

Published : Apr 24, 2024 16:08 IST , VARANASI - 2 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: Narsingh Yadav training ahead of the National Wrestling Championship in 2022.
FILE PHOTO: Narsingh Yadav training ahead of the National Wrestling Championship in 2022. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR/The Hindu
infoIcon

FILE PHOTO: Narsingh Yadav training ahead of the National Wrestling Championship in 2022. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR/The Hindu

Former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Narsingh Pancham Yadav was elected chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) Athletes’ Commission here on Wednesday, completing a process that was mandated by the sport’s world governing body.

A total of eight candidates were in the fray for the seven positions. The polls were conducted on ballot paper.

Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, the Games-bound Narsingh had grabbed headlines when two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who missed the qualification event due to an injury, requested for a trial bout against him.

Sushil moved the Delhi High Court and only after his appeal was rejected, it was confirmed that Narsingh would go to Rio Olympics.

ALSO READ: Decision on final trial for Paris Olympics after Istanbul qualifier, says WFI president

However, in a shocking turn of events, Narshingh failed two dope tests prior to the Games and was banned for four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) even though the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) had cleared him on the plea that his failed test was the result of sabotage.

The CAS decision came a day before his opening bout, forcing him to leave Rio de Janeiro without competing. The ban came to an end in July 2020 and he has maintained that the entire episode was a case of sabotage.

The other elected members of the athletes commission were Sahil (Delhi), Smitha AS (Kerala), Bharti Bhaghei (UP), Khushboo S Pawar (Gujarat), Nikki (Haryana), and Sweta Dubey (Bengal).

Narsingh, an Arjuna awardee and Asian Championships gold medallist in 2010, competed at the 2012 London Olympic Games and lost the opening bout in the 74kg category.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment